Post Office scandal survivors have faced deep trauma, study finds
Academics have shown how deeply lives have and continue to be affected by the scandal, which hit the public consciousness following the broadcast of the Bafta-winning ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
The study reveals how the trauma of the Post Office's misconduct has rippled out through victims families' lives and how many have been re-victimised at each stage of their fight for justice.
The research from the University of Exeter and UCL lays bare how the stigma of false accusation and financial ruin devastated the lives of subpostmasters and those close to them.
It also shows how having to engage with an adversarial legal system to fight for justice, and bureaucratic and slow redress schemes, have often caused secondary re-victimisation.
Their experiences highlight that there is a need to reform the legal system so it better serves victims, the experts say.
The research report outlines how delays to justice, and legalistic and adversarial procedures have caused and exacerbated psychological and emotional harm.
This has left many subpostmasters feeling retraumatised over the years.
They are distrustful of the institutions of government and mechanisms of justice, as well as the Post Office, and whilst many have drawn positives from the inquiry, some do not yet feel they have the full truth about what happened.
The report, by Dr Sally Day, Professor Richard Moorhead and Professor Rebecca Helm, from the University of Exeter, and Dr Karen Nokes, from UCL, was carried out as part of their Post Office project.
They interviewed 26 former subpostmasters, six partners, two children and one sibling.
Dr Day said: 'We would like to express our deepest and heartfelt thanks to all those who agreed to help us in this project.
'What is clear from our interviews is the complex harms experienced by those affected and their loved ones.
'We found adversity and sacrifice but also stories of determination, hope and solidarity.'
Professor Moorhead said: 'The thing that stands out from this work is the way an unjust accusation by the Post Office has spread through the lives of those accused and their families.
Academics have shown how deeply lives have and continue to be affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal (Rui Vieira/PA)
'With the exception of the ongoing inquiry, formal responses have tended to be cold and adversarial, which has been harmful to victims.'
Dr Nokes said: 'Many subpostmasters went from being highly respected and central to their local community to being publicly vilified, and labelled a thief, for something they hadn't done.
'Some experienced aggressive and distressing harassment and victimisation, including being spat at, and receiving abusive letters, phone calls and emails.
'There were clear 'ripple effects' – the reputational damage often extended to their families and people affected couldn't get away from the stigma.'
This work builds on two previous studies conducted by this project team.
One documented high levels of PTSD and depression among victims and survivors.
A follow-up survey in 2024 examined the ripple effect of harms from the scandal on 'secondary victims' such as partners and children, who had similar, extraordinary levels of PTSD and depression.
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The Herald Scotland
a day ago
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The announcement comes just weeks after lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Sir Alan Bates said the schemes had 'turned into quasi-kangaroo courts'. Sir Alan told the Sunday Times last month that DBT 'sits in judgement of the claims and alters the goal posts as and when it chooses'. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Many are still awaiting compensation. In figures published on Monday, DBT said £559 million has been paid out to 6,337 claimants from the Horizon shortfall scheme. The data also says that of the 492 subpostmasters who joined Sir Alan Bates in taking the Post Office to court between 2017 and 2019, who have not been convicted, also known as the Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO), 488 have received £167 million between them. Elsewhere, £245 million has been paid out to 463 subpostmasters who had their convictions quashed by legislation put in place last summer, and £68 million has been paid to those who have had their convictions quashed in the courts, DBT said. £1bn of financial redress has now been paid out to Post Office Horizon Scandal victims, more than quadruple the amount paid out up to July 2024. There is still more to do. The work continues at pace to ensure every victim gets the redress they are due: — Department for Business and Trade (@biztradegovuk) June 9, 2025 Post Office minister Gareth Thomas said: 'Since entering Government, it has been our priority to speed up the delivery of compensation to victims of the Horizon scandal and today's milestone shows how much progress has been made. 'We are settling cases every day and getting compensation out more quickly for the most complex cases, but the job isn't done until every postmaster has received fair and just redress.' Post Office chief executive Neil Brocklehurst said: 'I welcome the news that over £1 billion has been paid to victims of the Horizon IT Scandal. 'This drama has reached people in a way that drama rarely does… And that speaks volumes of the injustice.' Toby Jones, who stars in the ITV drama about the Post Office Horizon scandal, tells #BBCPM the reaction has been 'quite unlike anything else'. — BBC Radio 4 PM (@BBCPM) January 8, 2024 'Each week we are seeing more people receive their final settlements so they can begin to look beyond this painful chapter of their lives. 'However, I am also aware that more work remains to be done so that all victims receive full redress as quickly as possible and this is an absolute priority for the Post Office. 'And finally, to anyone else who thinks they may have been affected, I encourage you to come forward and apply for redress.' The news comes after a report, which found that survivors of the Post Office Horizon scandal have experienced deep trauma. Academics have shown how deeply lives have and continue to be affected by the scandal, which hit the public consciousness following the broadcast of the Bafta-winning ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. The study reveals how the trauma of the Post Office's misconduct has rippled out through victims' families' lives and how many have been re-victimised at each stage of their fight for justice. The research from the University of Exeter and UCL lays bare how the stigma of false accusation and financial ruin devastated the lives of subpostmasters and those close to them. The report, by Dr Sally Day, Professor Richard Moorhead and Professor Rebecca Helm, from the University of Exeter, and Dr Karen Nokes, from UCL, was carried out as part of their Post Office project. Recommended reading: Dr Nokes said: 'Many subpostmasters went from being highly respected and central to their local community to being publicly vilified, and labelled a thief, for something they hadn't done. 'Some experienced aggressive and distressing harassment and victimisation, including being spat at, and receiving abusive letters, phone calls and emails. 'There were clear 'ripple effects' – the reputational damage often extended to their families and people affected couldn't get away from the stigma.'
Glasgow Times
a day ago
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£1bn compensation paid to victims of Post Office scandal
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said money has now been paid out to more than 7,300 subpostmasters across all Horizon-related redress schemes. The announcement comes just weeks after lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Sir Alan Bates said the schemes had 'turned into quasi-kangaroo courts'. Sir Alan told the Sunday Times last month that DBT 'sits in judgement of the claims and alters the goal posts as and when it chooses'. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Many are still awaiting compensation. In figures published on Monday, DBT said £559 million has been paid out to 6,337 claimants from the Horizon shortfall scheme. The data also says that of the 492 subpostmasters who joined Sir Alan Bates in taking the Post Office to court between 2017 and 2019, who have not been convicted, also known as the Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO), 488 have received £167 million between them. Elsewhere, £245 million has been paid out to 463 subpostmasters who had their convictions quashed by legislation put in place last summer, and £68 million has been paid to those who have had their convictions quashed in the courts, DBT said. £1bn of financial redress has now been paid out to Post Office Horizon Scandal victims, more than quadruple the amount paid out up to July 2024. There is still more to do. The work continues at pace to ensure every victim gets the redress they are due: — Department for Business and Trade (@biztradegovuk) June 9, 2025 Post Office minister Gareth Thomas said: 'Since entering Government, it has been our priority to speed up the delivery of compensation to victims of the Horizon scandal and today's milestone shows how much progress has been made. 'We are settling cases every day and getting compensation out more quickly for the most complex cases, but the job isn't done until every postmaster has received fair and just redress.' Post Office chief executive Neil Brocklehurst said: 'I welcome the news that over £1 billion has been paid to victims of the Horizon IT Scandal. 'This drama has reached people in a way that drama rarely does… And that speaks volumes of the injustice.' Toby Jones, who stars in the ITV drama about the Post Office Horizon scandal, tells #BBCPM the reaction has been 'quite unlike anything else'. — BBC Radio 4 PM (@BBCPM) January 8, 2024 'Each week we are seeing more people receive their final settlements so they can begin to look beyond this painful chapter of their lives. 'However, I am also aware that more work remains to be done so that all victims receive full redress as quickly as possible and this is an absolute priority for the Post Office. 'And finally, to anyone else who thinks they may have been affected, I encourage you to come forward and apply for redress.' The news comes after a report, which found that survivors of the Post Office Horizon scandal have experienced deep trauma. Academics have shown how deeply lives have and continue to be affected by the scandal, which hit the public consciousness following the broadcast of the Bafta-winning ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. The study reveals how the trauma of the Post Office's misconduct has rippled out through victims' families' lives and how many have been re-victimised at each stage of their fight for justice. The research from the University of Exeter and UCL lays bare how the stigma of false accusation and financial ruin devastated the lives of subpostmasters and those close to them. The report, by Dr Sally Day, Professor Richard Moorhead and Professor Rebecca Helm, from the University of Exeter, and Dr Karen Nokes, from UCL, was carried out as part of their Post Office project. Recommended reading: Dr Nokes said: 'Many subpostmasters went from being highly respected and central to their local community to being publicly vilified, and labelled a thief, for something they hadn't done. 'Some experienced aggressive and distressing harassment and victimisation, including being spat at, and receiving abusive letters, phone calls and emails. 'There were clear 'ripple effects' – the reputational damage often extended to their families and people affected couldn't get away from the stigma.'
Leader Live
a day ago
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£1bn compensation paid to victims of Post Office scandal
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said money has now been paid out to more than 7,300 subpostmasters across all Horizon-related redress schemes. The announcement comes just weeks after lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Sir Alan Bates said the schemes had 'turned into quasi-kangaroo courts'. Sir Alan told the Sunday Times last month that DBT 'sits in judgement of the claims and alters the goal posts as and when it chooses'. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Many are still awaiting compensation. In figures published on Monday, DBT said £559 million has been paid out to 6,337 claimants from the Horizon shortfall scheme. The data also says that of the 492 subpostmasters who joined Sir Alan Bates in taking the Post Office to court between 2017 and 2019, who have not been convicted, also known as the Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO), 488 have received £167 million between them. Elsewhere, £245 million has been paid out to 463 subpostmasters who had their convictions quashed by legislation put in place last summer, and £68 million has been paid to those who have had their convictions quashed in the courts, DBT said. £1bn of financial redress has now been paid out to Post Office Horizon Scandal victims, more than quadruple the amount paid out up to July 2024. There is still more to do. The work continues at pace to ensure every victim gets the redress they are due: Post Office minister Gareth Thomas said: 'Since entering Government, it has been our priority to speed up the delivery of compensation to victims of the Horizon scandal and today's milestone shows how much progress has been made. 'We are settling cases every day and getting compensation out more quickly for the most complex cases, but the job isn't done until every postmaster has received fair and just redress.' Post Office chief executive Neil Brocklehurst said: 'I welcome the news that over £1 billion has been paid to victims of the Horizon IT Scandal. 'This drama has reached people in a way that drama rarely does… And that speaks volumes of the injustice.' Toby Jones, who stars in the ITV drama about the Post Office Horizon scandal, tells #BBCPM the reaction has been 'quite unlike anything else'. 'Each week we are seeing more people receive their final settlements so they can begin to look beyond this painful chapter of their lives. 'However, I am also aware that more work remains to be done so that all victims receive full redress as quickly as possible and this is an absolute priority for the Post Office. 'And finally, to anyone else who thinks they may have been affected, I encourage you to come forward and apply for redress.' The news comes after a report, which found that survivors of the Post Office Horizon scandal have experienced deep trauma. Academics have shown how deeply lives have and continue to be affected by the scandal, which hit the public consciousness following the broadcast of the Bafta-winning ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. The study reveals how the trauma of the Post Office's misconduct has rippled out through victims' families' lives and how many have been re-victimised at each stage of their fight for justice. The research from the University of Exeter and UCL lays bare how the stigma of false accusation and financial ruin devastated the lives of subpostmasters and those close to them. The report, by Dr Sally Day, Professor Richard Moorhead and Professor Rebecca Helm, from the University of Exeter, and Dr Karen Nokes, from UCL, was carried out as part of their Post Office project. Recommended reading: Full details of who is eligible for DWP winter fuel payments this year The DWP letters worth thousands - who is getting them and how to apply Changes to pensions this month could help 20 million people Dr Nokes said: 'Many subpostmasters went from being highly respected and central to their local community to being publicly vilified, and labelled a thief, for something they hadn't done. 'Some experienced aggressive and distressing harassment and victimisation, including being spat at, and receiving abusive letters, phone calls and emails. 'There were clear 'ripple effects' – the reputational damage often extended to their families and people affected couldn't get away from the stigma.'
